Angler hooks 'first' Atlantic triple fin fish in UK

[jalfrezi]

[not sure what exactly a triple fin fish is... or looks like]

The first Atlantic triple fin fish recorded in Britain has been caught in the Bristol Channel.

The species is usually found off the coasts of Africa, South America and the Mediterranean.

The 2ft long mature adult was handed in to the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff, where conservator Julian Carter said today that its discovery was another indication of the warming or British waters.

It was caught by a local fisherman, Michael Roberts, who was hoping to land salmon and sea trout.

He was using a stake net off the shore at Peterstone, between Cardiff and Newport.

His unusual catch probably arrived on the Gulf Stream, said Mr Carter.

"It is the first record of such a fish in UK waters," said Mr Carter, adding: "It is a very warm water fish."

He said it was hoped to make a cast of the fish and exhibit it along with the original.

Mr Carter said unusual species were moving into British waters as they warmed, adding that a species of tuna was recently caught off Wales.

Meanwhile, an oceanic pufferfish has been landed by a trawler off the Cornish coast.

It has been handed to the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, where rare fish expert Douglas Herdson said they had been turning up in British waters since the 18th century.

Copyright Press Association 2006